2026 Burras and Jillaroos National Under-21 Squads Announced

Hockey Australia is pleased to announce the 2026 National Under-21 Squads, with the Burras and Jillaroos squads confirmed ahead of a pivotal international cycle leading towards the 2027 FIH Junior World Cups.

The squads bring together many of the country’s most exciting emerging talents following standout performances across the domestic pathway, including the 2026 Under-21 National Championships, while also recognising athletes identified for long-term national team progression.

The selected athletes will now begin preparations for the 2026 Junior World Cup Qualifier, to be held locally in early October, as Australia aims to secure qualification for the 2027 FIH Junior World Cups.

Selections have taken into consideration performances at the National Championships, positional requirements and age profiles to support both current and future tournament demands, while also identifying athletes with long-term national team potential.

The Burras squad features several athletes who have already made strong impressions within Australia’s high-performance system, while the Jillaroos squad includes a blend of returning junior internationals and emerging prospects from across the country.

Current Kookaburras Squad members Dylan Downey and Ian Grobbelaar have not been named in the Burras squad but remain eligible for selection throughout 2026 if required.

Hockey Australia also confirmed that Under-21 squad selection is not directly aligned with National categorisation. Future Developing and Emerging athlete categorisations for the next cycle will be announced in August following the completion of the National Under-18 Championships.

The Burras and Jillaroos will continue training camps and assessment opportunities throughout the year as preparations intensify for the Junior World Cup Qualifier campaign and the pathway towards the 2027 Junior World Cups.